Integrating DCC with Direct Radio Control A proposal by Stan Ames
Integrating DCC with Direct Radio Control Hybrid Drive allows you to operate DCC with track power, DCC with battery power (where the DCC signal is still transmitted over the rails track but no track electrical connection is necessary) and in a combination of the above where track power is used when available and battery power when not available.
In all of these cases their is still a common DCC command station and the radio control goes from the radio to a receiver connected to the command station.
One other common approach to operate Large Scale model railroads is Direct Radio Control where the transmitter sends a signal directly to the receiver within a unique locomotive.
Following is a proposal submitted for discussion within the DCC WG for combining Direct Radio Control with DCC. A Tech note on this approach will be written upon completion of this discussion followed in time by a Recommended Practice and or Standard as appropriate.
Background
In Large Scale we have a wider variety of operating styles then is most common
in the smaller scales. One common method is using Direct Radio Control with
on-board power in the locomotive. In this approach the radio transmitter is in
direct radio communication with the receiver in the locomotive. In many cases
information is only sent when a change occurs. Unfortunately there is no
standards for the radio transmission and thus no interchange between different
brands. Achieving this standardization would be nice but likely not possible.
I am looking for the next level of a common denominator.
The most common method for installing Direct Radio Control is best described by
rip and replace. The existing electronics inside the locomotive are ripped out
and the Radio control circuits are installed.
This raises a problem.
As we move forward more and more electronics is being integrated inside the
locomotives to achieve much better performance and integration with sound.
In the DCC world we are finding more and more integration between the locomotive
and the decoder. When done correctly the harmony produces effects that are
truly amazing. A good example of this was recently shown by Lenz in its
O Scale locomotives and by QSI in its integration of
sound being done in its latest product release. Unfortunately the rip and
replace approach is at direct odds with this total integration approach. The
end user is often left with the need to purchase both and throw away one. A
side effect is that the resulting integration with the locomotive is less and
capabilities are lost.
A side effect is that the lack of standardization has discouraged locomotive
manufacturers from providing an even greater integration which in turn holds
back the hobby from evolving.
Recommended Approach
One of the greatest strengths of DCC is the combination of the signal and the
power. This combination of signal and power is the primary reason DCC works so
well on layouts works wide.
I am recommending a method to remove this combination for the Direct
Radio Control application
DCC is after all a serial protocol. If we remove the power component, we can
use a very small amplitude signal to interface any future control system to the
decoders/sound systems that exist within the locomotives without the need to
remove any compoonents.
Approach
I propose a new optional port on the decoder. The characteristics of the port
are as follows,
There is really nothing new here as many manufacturers have provided a technique for doing this for years. The only new idea is a call for consistency so that a wide number of manufacturers can build products that can interchange with each other.
This would allow all third party system designers to design control systems that
produced a standard serial signal that could be used to control a wide variety
of products in the market.
I am looking for input on this before I proceed with a formal Tech Note
proposal. I will also be presenting this concept at the NELSTS at the end of
March in York, PA.
Some History of past experiments with trying to improve DCC operations Outdoors
Clinic presented at the 2006 Narrow Gauge Convention in Durango
Clinic presentation at the 2007 Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland
Video Demonstrations on DCC Hybrid Drive
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This page is written and maintained by: Stan Ames
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